authors note: this is a bonus chapter. the idea came to me suddenly and I thought it would make a good epilogue. Plus I've been in a good mood this week. I went with my friend to see backstreet boys and that was fantastic. Nothing gets the creative juices flowing like shouting and flailing around.
reviews are welcome, let me know if I should continue something like this. Or do you guys prefer dr!Nick one shots?
3 years later...
Nick and Jeff were in the kitchen on a bright Saturday morning. Nick was cooking pancakes and Jeff was finishing up the dishes from the previous night.
Their son Michael was in the living room playing with his toy cars that Jeff's parents had bought him for his birthday the previous weekend.
Jeff and Nick adopted Michael when he was only a year old, and he had already turned four. Jeff always talked about how his baby was growing up so quickly. He was at the age when new experiences happened every week, and Nick had another new experience planned for their family today.
"Hey Jeffy, I think it's time Michael had his first checkup at my office don't you think? I mean after all the Halloween candy a couple weeks back I think his teeth could use a good cleaning don't you?" Nick pondered.
Jeff stopped washing the dishes and stood silently at the sink. A trip for Michael meant he had to accompany his husband and their son on the outing, and Jeff still wasn't keen on being apart of the whole experience. He had been making excuses for the last year and a half to get out of going with Nick to the office. To be fair, they were very busy with a toddler running around their home. Jeff still wasn't fond of entertaining the idea. He didn't want to pass his fears onto his son.
"Hey, earth to Jeff. Did you hear me?" Nick questioned. "He's so young Nicky, are you sure he's ready to handle this type of thing?" Jeff halfheartedly argued.
"Jeff, he's four, now is in fact the best time for him to handle this." Nick stated. "Besides, he got to see your office. He knows his daddy is an interior designer, and he thought that was so cool. I want him to see what his dad does too." Nick whined.
Jeff could see how much this meant to Nick, so he agreed. "Fine, Nick, but you have to explain to him where we're going. I'll probably just freak him out. Kids are very perceptive." Jeff concluded.
"Sounds good, you go change honey I'll finish the dishes." Nick smiled.
Jeff ran his hand through his hair as he paced around the master bathroom. He was stressing out and for no good reason. He wasn't even going with Nick for himself. He sat on the edge of the tub and heard little footsteps patter into his room.
"Daddy, why are you upset?" Michael questioned as he looked up at Jeff. Jeff hopped up from his spot on the tub, and crouched down to Michael's level. "Sometimes buddy grown-ups just have a bad day. And today daddy is a little down." Jeff explained in an even tone.
"Are you upset because we're going to dad's work today daddy? Cause you looked mad at dad when he said it." Michael spoke matter-of-factly.
Crap, kids were perceptive.
"No honey, daddy is just a little tired that's all. Now go get your coat and dad will tell you all about what he does at work." Jeff told his son as he scampered away.
A few deep breaths, in and out. Jeff looked in the mirror and he looked a little pale. This was not going to be easy, but he needed to put on a show for Michael.
Jeff emerged from the bathroom to find Nick tying Michael's shoes. Nick and mike had a strong bond over things Jeff couldn't really get into like sports and cars. Right now they were enthusiastically talking about hockey. Nick promised Michael they would stop by sports chalet and get him a team jersey if he listened and did everything dad asked him to do today. That got Michael's attention.
The car ride over to the office was filled with mike and his curiosity.
"Dad what do you do at your office? Do you draw things and color like daddy?" That made Jeff giggle. All those classes on color theory were just coloring to a little boy.
"No buddy, my office is like a doctors office, except I fix people's teeth and make sure they're healthy and clean." Nick responded cheerfully.
"Oh ok." Michael sat in his car seat looking thoughtfully out the window. "Are you gonna clean daddy's teeth too?" Mike asked Nick. Jeff's face blanched at that. He looked over to nick with wide eyes. "I'm not sure buddy. We'll decide that when we get there." Nick responded. Jeff just stared at Nick his mouth agape. That little! He just threw him under the bus in front of their son.
They arrived at Nick's office and exited the car. Nick walked with purpose towards the entrance holding Michael's hand through the parking lot. Jeff trailed behind with his hands in his jacket pockets.
When they were inside Nick picked up mike and brought him over to the receptionists counter. "Michael, this is melody. She says hello to people and keeps everything neat and organized at my office." Nick explained.
"It's very nice to meet you Michael, your dad talks about you all the time" she smiled as she held out her hand to shake. Michael took it and gave her an enthusiastic smile. "Dad wants to show me his office. He says I'm old enough now. I just turned 4!"
"You did? Well congratulations, that means you get four stickers when your done. Isn't that neat?"
Mike looked at his dad and he winked at melody before putting down his son. They walked to the back. Jeff gave melody a weak smile as he followed closely behind.
Michael took in the exam room as Nick led him inside. He began asking what everything did and how Nick worked. "And why is daddy not coming in dad?"
Nick looked up and saw Jeff lingering in the doorway to the room. He gave him a reproachful look and got up from his stool.
"You need to come in and sit in the corner for mike." Nick spoke softly.
"I-I don't think I can Nicky, I can feel my anxiety" Jeff stammered.
"You can" Nick smiled.
Jeff hesitantly walked to the corner of the room and sat down.
"Ok buddy, can you hop up here for me?" Nick said pointing to the chair. He hoisted Michael up and got out a pack of clean tools. He let him hold them all and explained what each one did. Then he put a bib on Michael and slipped on some gives and his glasses. Michael started to squirm in his seat. He looked over to Jeff and saw the uneasiness on his face too and became worrisome.
"Ok buddy, can you open big like a lion for me? I'm going to count your teeth."
Michael shook his head and looked back over to Jeff who was looking down at his feet now to avoid seeing what Nick was doing. Nick looked at mike puzzled at his sudden lack of cooperation and had an idea.
"Would you like to see daddy go first mikey?" Nick asked sweetly. Jeff's head shot up. He looked nick dead in the eyes with a pleading look.
"Yeah, I want daddy to do it" Mike said quickly.
Jeff shook his head while mike was looking at Nick. "I think that would be a great idea buddy." Nick said calmly.
Nick beckoned Jeff over with his index finger. Jeff stood shakily and walked over to where Michael was. He plastered a weak smile on his face and slowly sat down. He really didn't want to do this. His last major experience in this office sent chills down his spine. Nick started to lower the chair but Jeff stayed sitting upright with his eyes shut tight. Nick reached for Jeff's shoulder and gently pulled him backwards.
Jeff's eyes snapped open as his back hit the seat. Nick leaned in next to Jeff's ear and whispered. "You'll be ok Jeff, I won't hurt you ok? But you need to be brave for mike alright?" Jeff nodded weakly.
Nick turned on the overhead light and pulled up a seat for Michael to watch.
"Daddy, are you scared?" Michael asked.
Jeff looked at Nick who nodded his head as if to say 'go ahead.'
"Yes buddy, daddy is a little scared, but not because of your dad ok? He's really gentle. Daddy didn't have such a cool dad when he was your age and he didn't have such a fun time at the dentist either. But it's ok because your dad makes everything ok, alright?"
"Ok daddy" Michael relaxed.
"Alright Jeff, open up for me please" Nick said with his tools in hand. Jeff took a shaky breath and opened his mouth for Nick and shut his eyes. Jeff listened intently as Nick explained everything he was doing to Michael while he watched. Nick quickly cleaned Jeff's teeth and gave them a polishing. He let mike tickle his finger on it so he understood it was a big toothbrush.
Then came time for Nick to examine Jeff for any problems. "Alright Jeff, open up" Nick stated. Surprisingly Jeff obediently allowed Nick to examine his teeth. Jeff was hoping he was almost done and out of this frightening situation.
Then nick tapped one of his back teeth and that all too familiar feeling hit him. He looked up into Nick's eyes with apprehension. Nick met his gaze with an apologetic glance.
"Well mikey, daddy's all done, for now" Nick added.
"What's wrong with daddy?" Michael asked.
"Daddy has a little hole in one of his teeth from the sugar bugs. That's why we clean them off. But it's ok, because I can fix it for him before we go home." Nick said in a firm tone so Jeff knew he was talking to him as well.
Jeff's face paled at Nick's promise, and he abruptly sat up. "Jeff" Nick said sternly, "you need to go sit and wait in the corner chair"
Jeff didn't want to cause a scene in front of his son, but he also wanted to get out of the room. "I need to use the bathroom" he blurted out.
"No you don't Jeff, sit. Now." Nick ordered. Jeff took his seat and started chewing on his bottom lip nervously.
Michael was much more at ease this time around and let nick clean and count his teeth without any problem.
"You did so well buddy" Nick glanced up at Jeff. "Why don't you go ask melody for your stickers while I talk to daddy, ok?"
"Awesome!" Michael shouted before he ran out to collect his winnings.
"You know you have to come over here and set a good example for Michael now don't you?" Nick pressed looking at Jeff. Jeff looked up at Nick and whined. "I don't want to set the example. I want to leave."
"Well how about this. Come over here and take it like an adult, and I'll be gentle. Or else I'll have to make you" Nick offered.
Jeff stood from his chair and walked over to Nick. He willingly sat down and allowed Nick to begin preparing.
Michael walked back in as Jeff began to fidget in his seat.
"Are you going to fix daddy's tooth now dad?" Michael questioned.
"I am buddy" Nick responded "but I think daddy and I need to do this alone. So I'm going to give you an important job buddy. I need you to go and ask melody to help you pick out what jersey were going to get on our way home ok?"
"Okay."
As soon as their son left the room Jeff turned back to Nick and gave him one choked frightens sob. "Why does this happen to me? This shouldn't be that hard to just be brave for my son, but I can't." He blurted out.
Nick gave Jeff's neck a few reassuring squeezes and Jeff began to relax at his husbands touch.
"Ok, I'm ready. Just do it" he said pinching his eyes shut.
Nick laid the chair back and turned on the light. Jeff's mouth fell open almost immediately eyes still shut tight. Nick was surprised at Jeff's strength today. He took advantage of the cooperation before Jeff changed his mind an prepared the syringe he would be needing in a moment.
When Nick began to come towards Jeff with the syringe he flinched out of reflex. "Honey, you need to hold still" Nick reproached. "I'm sorry, I can't." Jeff whined.
"I'm going to hold you still so you don't flinch ok?" Nick asked. Jeff nodded his head. Nick gently cupped Jeff lower jaw and held it open so Jeff couldn't turn away. Jeff pinched his eyes shut when he saw Nick approach the second time. Surprisingly Jeff didn't feel much. "There, that wasn't bad was it honey?" Nick soothed "let's give it a few minutes."
Once Jeff was numb enough Nick was ready to start. "Ok Jeffy, I know you can do this, you're strong and you've been very brave today.
Jeff took a few deep breaths and nodded his head.
Nick picked up the drill and Jeff opened his mouth. When Nick turned it on Jeff jolted but he didn't move. Nick began to fix Jeff's tooth, Jeff maintained his stoic attitude. Only a few tears escaped the corner of his eyes. But he was relieved to find there was no pain.
After about ten minutes Nick was finished working and turned off the light. He gave Nick a quick kiss on the cheek and hugged his brave husband.
"You did so well Jeff, I'm so proud of you." Nick beamed.
"Thankth Nicky, that wathnt tho bad." Jeff tried to speak, but found it a little difficult.
"Let's go to sport chalet shall we?" Nick chimed.
Jeff followed him out to the lobby where melody was watching Michael do his favorite dance moves he learned from YouTube.
"Hey buddy, you ready to go get your prize?!" Nick shouted enthusiastically.
"Yea! I'm gonna get a kings jersey dad!" He boasted.
"Pfft figures, they're in the lead." Nick murmured. "Anyway, go give daddy a hug, he was really brave today."
Jeff picked up Michael an swung him around playfully. "Let's get going superman, we have errands to run today too."
"Kay" Michael replied sleepily, he had an exciting afternoon, and it was almost time to head home. They said their goodbyes and got in the car.
Nick smiled at Jeff. "What's so funny?" Jeff asked. "Nothing, you just did so well today, I'm glad you were able to trust me. Also, your pretty cute when your nervous." Nick stated as he ran his fingers gently against Jeff's cheek.
Today is a new beginning...
